Gamecocks down a pair of defensive starters

The injury bug has hit the defensive side of the ball at South Carolina, but fortunately it has come more than five months before the Gamecocks open the 2014 season against Texas A&M.

According to The State, a pair of linebackers, Kaiwan Lewis and Sharrod Golightly, underwent arthroscopic surgeries on their left knees during the offseason. As a result, both players will miss at least two weeks worth of spring practice. Lewis and Golightly are expected to return at some point before the Gamecocks’ spring game April 12, but even that’s uncertain at this point.

“They are saying (they will be back) before spring ball is out, but they’re not saying when just yet,” linebackers coach Kirk Botkin told the paper following practice Tuesday.

Lewis, a middle linebacker, started 10 games in 2013 while Golightly, who plays the “spur” position, started 12. The former was third on the team in tackles, the latter sixth

Both players, provided as expected they are healthy for the start of summer camp and beyond, are projected to start at those respective positions again in 2014.